Device for locking a media disc to a retaining hub

ABSTRACT

A locking device for a disc retaining hub includes a base and a head that lock together over the hub to lock a disc on the hub until a portion of the locking device is destroyed. The head or the base of the locking device includes locking fingers that allow the head and base to lock together in a one-way snap fit connection. The locking mechanism may also cooperate with the disc retaining hub to lock itself to the hub. The locking mechanism prevents the disc from being removed from the hub until the locking mechanism is destroyed by the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/769,033 filed Jan. 24, 2001; the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to media storagecontainers and, more particularly, to a media storage container thatprevents the item of recorded media from being removed from thecontainer until the user destroys a portion of the container.Specifically, the present invention relates to a media storage containerhaving a hub that receives a disc-shaped item of recorded media. Alocking member cooperates with the hub to prevent the disc from beingremoved from the hub. The user must destroy the locking member beforeremoving the disc from the hub.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] Different media formats are sold in the form of discs. Examplesare CDs and DVDs. These discs are stored in media storage containersthat typically have a hub on which the disc is received. The hubsinclude holding fingers that prevent the disc from falling off of thehub during normal use and handling. The storage containers are shrinkwrapped when displayed in retail environments.

[0006] A problem with these storage containers is that shoplifters havedevised ways of removing the discs from the containers in the retailenvironment even when the containers are locked with an external lock.The removal of the disc allows the shoplifter to leave the store withoutactivating alarms that are triggered by an electronic articlesurveillance (EAS) tag positioned in the storage container. One way ofremoving the disc from a container is to strike the front of thecontainer against a surface until the disc is shaken off of the hub. Theshoplifter then slits the shrink wrap, forces an end of the box open,and removes the disc from the container. The art desires a hub mechanismthat will retain the disc on the hub even when the hub is subjected tosharp impact forces. The art also desires that the hub easily releasethe disc after the consumer purchases the disc and the container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention provides a storage container for a disc-shaped itemof recorded media wherein the disc is held on a hub within thecontainer. A device cooperates with the hub to prevent the disc frombeing removed from the hub. The user of the device destroys the deviceand discards it when first removing the disc from the hub. The disc maythen be placed onto and removed from the hub.

[0008] The invention provides a locking member that snap fits over thehub and discs to prevent the disc from being removed from the hub. Theuser cuts portions of the locking member to allow it to be removed fromthe hub. The user may then use the hub in its normal capacity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a storage container having a hub witha portion of the locking member connected to the base of the container.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second portion of the lockingmember that cooperates with the first portion of the locking member tolock an item of recorded media in the base of the container.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing a disc-shaped item of recordedmedia locked to the base of the container.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an alternativeembodiment of the invention wherein the first member of the lockingdevice is snap fit to the base of the container.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an alternativeembodiment wherein the first member of the locking device is integrallyformed with the hub of the container.

[0016]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an alternativeembodiment of the locking device of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 9 is a sectional view through a hub showing the first memberof the locking device engaged with the hub.

[0018]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a storage container having adisc-shaped item of recorded media locked to the hub of the container.

[0019]FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

[0020]FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing an alternativeembodiment of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing an alternativeembodiment of the invention.

[0022] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout theapplication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] A storage container for a disc-shaped item of recorded media isindicated generally by the numeral 10 in the accompanying drawings.Container 10 includes a hub 12 configured to cooperate with the lockingdevice 14 of the present invention to securely retain an item ofrecorded media in container 10 until the consumer removes locking device14 from container 10. Locking device 14 may not be removed fromcontainer 10 until at least a portion of locking device 14 is destroyed.

[0024] Container 10 includes a base 20 and a lid 22 that is movablebetween open and closed positions. In the closed position, lid 22 andbase 20 cooperate to form a storage chamber inside of container 10. Hub12 includes a support surface 24 that engages the lower surface of adisc 16 that contains recorded media. Support surface 24 may supportdisc 16 above the lower surface of container 10. In the embodiment ofthe invention depicted in the drawings, support surface 24 includes aplurality of raised nubs 25 that minimize friction between disc 16 andsupport surface 24. Hub 12 further includes protrusions 26 that arepositioned over the upper surface of disc 16 when disc 16 is held by hub12. Protrusions 26 hold disc 16 on hub 12 in a manner that allows theuser to remove disc 16 from hub 12 and replace disc 16 on hub 12.Protrusions 26 and/or the sidewall 27 of hub 12 are thus somewhatresilient to allow for the repetitious removal and replacement of disc16. In the embodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings,protrusions 26 are oppositely disposed and extend outwardly from asubstantially cylindrical sidewall. In other embodiments of theinvention, protrusions 26 may be disposed in different numbers than thetwo protrusions depicted in the drawings. In other embodiments,protrusions 26 may be disposed at the end of resilient fingers that arecantilevered from support surface 24. The resilient fingers may pushradially outwardly against the inner edge of disc 16.

[0025] Hub 12 further defines an opening 30 configured to receive aportion of locking device 14. Locking device 14 generally includes abase 40 and a head 42. Head 42 is configured to lock to base 40 in amanner that prevents head 42 from being removed from base 40 once head42 is in the locked position. The locked position of head 42 is depictedin FIGS. 4 and 5. One of base 40 and head 42 is configured to passthrough a portion of hub 12 before head 42 is locked to base 40. Oncelocked to base 40, head 42 prevents the user from removing disc 16 fromhub 12 as depicted in FIG. 5. Before the user may remove disc 16, theuser must destroy a portion of either base 40 or head 42. For instance,the user may cut head 42 away from base 40 in order to remove head 42and access disc 16.

[0026] Base 40 includes a tray 44 sized to hold an electronic articlesurveillance tag (EAS tag) 46. Tray 44 is positioned underneath thebottom wall 48 of base 20 of container 10. Base 40 and tray 44 arehidden from view by the literature sheet or the outer sheathing 50 ofcontainer 10. EAS tag 46 may be adhesively connected to tray 44 or maybe loosely disposed in tray 44. Tray 44 may also have a plurality ofupstanding walls 52 configured to retain EAS tag 46. In otherembodiments, EAS tag 46 may be carried by head 42.

[0027] Base 40 also includes a post 60 configured to extend up throughhub 12. Post 60 is configured to lockingly receive head 42. Post 60includes at least one locking finger 62 that engages head 42 in a lockedposition. Post 60 extends up through opening 30 of hub 12 so that head42 is positioned over hub 12 when head 42 is in the locked position.

[0028] Head 42 includes at least one ledge or locking finger 70configured to cooperate with locking fingers 62 to lock head 42 to base40 as depicted in FIG. 5. In this embodiment of the invention, post 60includes a single continuous locking finger 62 that extendscircumferentially about post 60. Locking fingers 70 are disposed belowthe upper surface 72 of head 42 so that a shoplifter cannot easilyaccess locking fingers 70.

[0029] Head 42 has a diameter large enough to cover all portions of hub12 that extend through the center hole of disc 16. The lower wall ofhead 42 may engage the upper surface of disc 16. Head 42 is configuredto allow a user to cut through upper wall 72 with a pair of householdscissors or a knife in order to loosen head 42 and to remove it frompost 40. Once head 42 is removed, the user may remove disc 16. Ifdesired, the user may cut post 60 to remove the head of post 60. Tray 44remains loosely disposed below wall 48.

[0030] As described above, locking fingers 70 of head 42 are disposedbelow upper wall 72 so that the shoplifter cannot easily manipulatelocking fingers 70. Head 42 is formed with a downwardly extending wall74 that defines openings 76. Locking fingers 70 extend inwardly from thelower portions of wall 74 between openings 76. The downwardly projectingouter wall 78 of head 42 defines three shelves 80 that provide anaccessible region for the user to attack head 42 with scissors whenremoving head 42 from base 40. Outer wall 78 is generally dome-shaped.The dome provides strength to head 42 while allowing head 42 to beconfigured to be destroyed with scissors.

[0031] An alternative version of the invention is depicted in FIG. 6. Inthis embodiment, base 40 includes locking fingers 100 that connect base40 to base 20. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, locking fingers 100extend through openings 102 defined by bottom wall 48 of base 20.Fingers 100 are forced through openings 102 in a one-way snap fitconnection to prevent base 40 from becoming loose after head 42 isremoved.

[0032] An alternative embodiment is depicted in FIG. 7 wherein post 60is integrally formed with hub 12 such that base 40 is an integral partof hub 12.

[0033] An alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS.8-11. In FIGS. 8-11, the locking mechanism is indicated generally by thenumeral 214. The elements of the storage container and the disc arelabeled with the same numbers used above. Locking mechanism 214 performsthe same function as locking mechanism 14 described above.

[0034] Locking mechanism 214 includes a base 240 and a head 242 thatcooperate to lock disc 16 on hub 12 until the user destroys a portion oflocking mechanism 214 to remove it from container 10. Locking mechanism214 is different than locking mechanism 14 in that the post 260 carryingthe locking fingers 262 is connected to head 242 instead of base 240.

[0035] Base 240 includes a tray 244 configured to hold EAS tag 46 belowbottom wall 48 of base 20. EAS tag 46 may be mounted to tray 244 withadhesive or tray 244 may include walls 252 configured to prevent EAS tag46 on tray 244. Base 240 also includes a secondary post 253 that definesa locking finger or ledge 255. Ledge 255 is configured to cooperate withlocking fingers 262 to lock head 242 to base 240 when locking mechanism214 is locked over hub 12. In the embodiment of the invention depictedin the drawings, secondary post 253 is configured to be snugly receivedinside hub 12 to position ledge 255 immediately below opening 30. Thisconfiguration allows post 260 to be shorter than if ledge 255 werepositioned at the same level as support surface 24. Ledge 255 ispositioned closely adjacent an opening 257 defined by an upper wall 259of secondary post 253. The outer surface of secondary post 253 may bedesigned to frictionally engage the inner surface of wall 27 of hub 12.The frictional engagement strengthens hub 12 and helps to keep disc 16on hub 12 during shipping. The frictional engagement also prevents base240 from rattling against base 20.

[0036] As noted above, post 260 is connected to head 242. Lockingfingers 262 extend radially outwardly and axially upwardly with respectto post 260 when head 242 is connected to base 240. Each locking finger262 is resilient and may be bent radially inwardly when its outwardlyfacing angled surface engages a wall such as upper wall 259 of secondarypost 253. The angled configuration of locking fingers 262 prevent post260 from being pulled out of opening 257 once locking fingers 262 havebeen pushed through opening 257 to engage ledge 255.

[0037] Post 260 is connected to the dome-shaped outer wall 278 of head242 by a pair of bridges 279. Bridges 279 may be oppositely disposed asdepicted in the drawings. Although two bridges 279 are depicted,different number of bridges 279 may be included to provide more supportand more security to locking mechanism 214. Bridges 279 provide securitybecause each bridge 279 must be destroyed before head 242 may be removedfrom base 240. Thus, if three or four bridges 279 are used to supportpost 260, the user must destroy more bridges 279 before removing head242. To facilitate the destruction of bridges 279, each bridge 279defines an area of reduced thickness 281 where the user may destroybridge 279 with a pair of common household scissors.

[0038] Outer wall 278 is dome-shaped providing head 242 with sufficientstrength to resist a shoplifter's attacks. Outer wall 278 has an innerdiameter large enough to cover the portion of hub 12 that protrudesthrough the upper surface of disc 16 as depicted in FIG. 11.

[0039] An alternative version of base 240 is depicted in FIG. 12 whereinbase 240 includes locking fingers 300 designed to connect base 240 tobottom wall 48 of base 20. Bottom wall defines openings 302 configuredto receive locking fingers 300 in a one-way snap fit connection.

[0040]FIG. 13 depicts an alternative embodiment wherein the upper wall310 of hub 12 is used to define a ledge 312 on which locking fingers 262engage. In this embodiment, base 240 is not required and head 242 locksdirectly to hub 12.

[0041] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used forbrevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are tobe implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art becausesuch terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to bebroadly construed.

[0042] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. In combination, a media storage container having a disc-retaininghub, a disc-shaped item of recorded media disposed on the disc-retaininghub, and a disc locking device that locks the disc-shaped item ofrecorded media on the disc-retaining hub; the disc-retaining hub holdingthe disc-shaped item of recorded media on the hub in a manner thatallows the disc-shaped item of recorded media to be removed from thedisc-retaining hub and replaced on the disc-retaining hub; thedisc-retaining hub including an outer wall that engages the disc-shapeditem of recorded media retain the disc-shaped item of recorded media onthe disc-retaining hub; the disc locking device including a lockingdevice base disposed under the disc-retaining hub and a locking devicehead configured to lock to the locking device base; and the disc lockingdevice cooperating with the disc-retaining hub to prevent thedisc-shaped item of recorded media from being removed from thedisc-retaining hub when the locking device base is locked to the lockingdevice head.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein at least a portionof the locking device base is disposed within the outer wall of thedisc-retaining hub.
 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein thedisc-retaining hub defines an opening; at least a portion of the lockingdevice head extending through the opening when the locking device headis locked to the locking device base.
 4. The combination of claim 3,further comprising an EAS tag carried by one of the container and thedisc locking device.
 5. The combination of claim 1, wherein thedisc-retaining hub defines an opening; at least a portion of the lockingdevice head extending through the opening when the locking device headis locked to the locking device base.
 6. The combination of claim 1,wherein the locking device head includes a post that extends through thedisc-retaining hub to engage the locking device base.
 7. The combinationof claim 6, wherein the post locks to the locking device base.
 8. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the container includes a lid that pivotsbetween open and closed positions; the lid being pivotable between theopen and closed positions when the disc-locking device is locking thedisc-shaped item of recorded media to the disc-retaining hub.
 9. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the outer wall of the disc-retaining hubdefines a protrusion having a portion disposed over the disc-shaped itemof recorded media when the disc-shaped item of recorded media isdisposed on the disc-retaining hub.
 10. The combination of claim 1,wherein the locking device base is fixed with respect to thedisc-retaining hub.
 11. The combination of claim 10, wherein a portionof the locking device base is disposed within the disc-retaining hub.12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the disc-retaining hub definesan opening that receives a portion of the locking device head when thelocking device head is locked to the locking device base.
 13. Thecombination of claim 12, wherein the locking device base defines anopening that receives a portion of the locking device head when thelocking device head is locked to the locking device base.
 14. Thecombination of claim 13, wherein the opening of the locking device baseis aligned with the opening of the disc-retaining hub.
 15. Thecombination of claim 14, wherein the opening of the locking device baseis disposed adjacent to the opening of the disc-retaining hub.
 16. Thecombination of claim 11, wherein the locking device base defines ashoulder; the disc-retaining hub engaging the shoulder.
 17. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the disc-shaped item of recorded mediais disposed intermediate the locking device head and a portion of thecontainer when the locking device head is locked to the locking devicebase.
 18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the disc-shaped item ofrecorded media is disposed intermediate the locking device head and aportion of the disc-retaining hub when the locking device head is lockedto the locking device base.